Burial casket



July 14,1942. 'R B. BERANEK 2,289,406

BURIAL GASKET Filed July 2o,l 1940 Il Il Patented July 14, 1942 l UNITED i STATES PATENT orifice I 2,289,406 BURIAL GASKET Rudolph B. Beranek, Detroit, Mich.

Application July 20, 1940, Serial No. 346,637

4 Claims. (Cl. 27-35) This invention relates to burial caskets of that type wherein a decorative outer casket or casing houses and conceals an inner,` relatively inexpensive interment casket preparatory to and during the burial service.

Caskets of this type have `a relatively large neld of use among persons of limited means, since they lend comfort and solace to the mourners by avoiding the appearance of cheapness and drabness, while at the same time materially reducingv Heretofore, however,

the cost of the service. y casket construction of this type has embodied certain objectionable features, among which may be mentioned a relatively loose and sometimes rickety fit between the outer and inner caskets,l the exposure of a part or parts of the inner casket' when the outer casket is opened, and the complexity of the operating mechanism for releasing the inner casket during interment.

The present invention,

therefore, includes among its objects to provide a casket which, while being in reality of the double type, provides such a snug fit between the outer and inner shells or caskets as to simulate a practically single unit;

to provide a casket of the type specied wherein"` the interment box is fully concealed when the outer or main casket is opened, andto provideA line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in section similar to Fig. 2 except that the lid is shown in closed position; and

Fig- 4 is a plan view of the casket with one end partially broken away to show the release mechanism for the inner casket.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the main outer casket is generally indicated at I0 and may be of ornate design and of permanent relatively expensive construction, the particular design forming no part of the invention. The outer casket has hinged covers or lids Il, Ila and IIb, side walls I2, Iza and an open bottom.

The construction of the side walls of the outer and inner caskets is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 55 3, said walls being of tapered construction from the upper to the lower edges thereof for a purpose which will presently become apparent. While the end walls are not illustrated in'detail, they are also of coacting tapered or outwardly beveled construction.

Disposed within the outer casket or shell I0 is an inner interment casket generally indicated at I3, and which may be of relatively cheap construction. The side walls I4 and 14a, of the inner casket are beveled or inclined upwardly and telescoped within the walls I2a, 12a of the outer casket, forming a relatively snug or tight iit. By this means the two caskets form a practically single unit and there is no tendency towards displacement of the inner casket with respect to the outer casket during handling. At the same time, it will be noted that the inner casket is free to move downwardly from the outer casket when the release mechanism, to be described, is operated.

The inner casket has a closed bottom I5 and a hinged `licl or cover I6.

In order to fully conceal the inner casket or interment box from exterior Yview when the lid of the outer casket is open, a lining I'I is provided and has its oneedge detachably connected to the lid II of the outer casket at I'Ia and its other edge connected to the lid or cover IIa as at I'Ib. When the lid I6 of the inner box or casket is open, the lining I1 fully conceals the lid I6 as well as the entire inner box from exterior view, note particularly Fig. 2. To provide a symmetrical appearance when the outer and inner covers are open, the outer cover is formed with a recess I'Ic in which the free edge of the inner lid engages.

The mechanism for releasing the interment box or inner casket is best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The outer casket is provided with a pair of levers or latches I8, |80, each of which is pivotally connected to the outer casket as at I9. The inner casket is provided with stop members or lugs 20 and 20a which also serve as handles, and the pivoted latches I8, I8a engage beneath these lugs or handles 20, 20a when the outer and inner caskets are in telescoped engagement. The latches I8, I8a are held in latched position by means of a latch member 2l in the form of a screw bolt which is threaded through the end wall of the outer casket into engagement with the contiguous ends of said latch members To release the inner casket during interment, it is only necessary to retract the members 2l at each end of the casket, whereupon the inner casket is permitted to rest on the lowering belt 22, note Fig. 3, said belt forming part of the usual casket lowering apparatus indicated at 23.

A casket of the type herein disclosed has a number of advantages over prior known caskets of this general type. Due to the relatively snug or close t between the outer and inner caskets, the entire assembly may be used as a single unit. For example, the inner casket can be made of corrosion-resistant material and serve as a detachable lining for the outer casket in cases where expense is no consideration, any number of different types of liners being available. In the event the inner casket is to be used as an interment box, its snug lit ensures against displacement during use while at the same rtime it may be freely released from the outer casket. The operating mechanism is unusually simple and may be easily manipulated.

In the event cremation is desired, such procedure can be adopted conveniently and at a mini-.mum of expense and still carry out the customary dignified funeral service.

It will be understood that certain limited changes in construction and design may be adopted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as dened by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A burial casket comprising outer and inner shells, each shell being provided with a lid capable of being raised to afford access to the interior of the shell, the outer shell having an open bottom to receive the inner shell, the inner side walls of the outer casket being inclined outwardly from their upper totheir lower edges and the coacting surfaces of the side walls of the inner shell being inclined inwardly from the lower towards their upper edges to provide a snug intert between the shells in a manner such as to simulate a substantially one-piece casket, the lid of one shell cooperating with the lid of the other shell to form a larger lid when the lids are in open position, and fastening means Securing said shells rin nested relation but permitting the shells to be separated, the coacting inclined surfaces of said shells `permitting release of the inner shell from the outer shell downwardly through the open bottom of the latter.

2. A burial casket comprising a dual receptacle intended to be used either as a unit for burying the dead or for use during a burial ceremony, said unit being separable into two parts; one a complete closed receptacle, and a second an exterior open-bottomed casing for said receptacle,

. each of said parts having a lid, said parts when 'telescoping engagement with said outer casket, -the inner side walls of the outer casket being inclined outwardly from their upper to their lower edges and the coacting surfaces of the side walls of the inner casket being inclined inwardly from their lower towards their upper edges to provide a close-fitting engagement between the inner and outer caskets and at the same time permitting the inner casket to be released from the outer casket through the open bottom of the latter.

4. A burial casket comprising an outer casket proper adapted for re-use and having an open bottom, an inner casket or interment box telescoped into said outer casket, said inner casket being provided with handle members, latch members pivotally connected to said outer casket for engagement with said handle members to hold the inner casket in engagement with the outer casket, and a threaded latch bolt projected through said outer casket for releasable engagement with said latch members, said latch engagement with said latch members, Said latch bolt when released permitting the latch members to swing clear of the handle members.

RUDOLPH B. BERANEK. 

